Spotlight on ERC joint faith school plans

Gillian Loney

Plans to build a joint faith school campus for East Renfrewshire’s Catholic and Jewish communities has been given the go-ahead at Waterfoot Road.

Following an appraisal of the Local Development Plan by Scottish reporters, the site, opposite Mearns Castle High, has been green-lit for a £13.6 million development.

The campus will provide an additional Catholic primary school with non-denominational nursery, as well as replacing East Ren’s existing Jewish primary and nursery at Calderwood Lodge.

A council spokeswoman said: “Calderwood Lodge, although owned and managed by ERC, is located in Newlands, Glasgow. There has been a wish locally to have the school located in East Ren, where most of the pupils live.

“There is a need for an additional Catholic primary for Newton Mearns to meet demand. It would operate alongside the existing denominational primary school, St Cadoc’s.”

The plan has been given the seal of approval from both faith communities following an informal consultation by ERC in October last year.

Now, the design is under consultation, with proposals including separate entrances and classroom wings, as well as head teachers for each school and nursery class.

The playground may be shared as well as sports and music facilities, although Kosher catering and dining facilities will be available to Calderwood Lodge pupils.

The spokeswoman added: “It is intended that the Calderwood Lodge school building will close at the end of the 2016/17 school year, with the faith schools’ joint campus opening for the start of the 2017/18 school session.”